Putin and Xi Jinping Discuss Cooperation at SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping began talks on August 31, 2026, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The summit, which celebrates its 25-year anniversary, also includes leaders from Iran, Turkey, India, and Pakistan. Putin remarked that "Cooperation is successfully developing on all fronts," while Xi expressed that Russia-China relations have become "more solid". The discussions occurred four-and-a-half years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine and six months into the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. The Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the Ukraine war was discussed only briefly. Putin is also expected to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as Russia and Iran have strengthened military and economic ties since the Ukraine invasion. The SCO, which has expanded its membership and dialogue partnerships, has shifted its focus in recent years under the influence of Moscow and Beijing. The summit occurs amid ongoing conflicts and trade tensions involving some member states, particularly the U.S. sanctions on Iran and tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods.